When Virginia Tech instructor Laura Neser adapted an open textbook for her Earth science students, she intended it as a practical classroom tool. She didn’t expect it to become a worldwide educational resource.

Since its release in December 2022, “Introduction to Earth Science” has found its way into classrooms around the globe, reaching students from rural high schools to international universities.

The second edition, released in January, offers expanded content and improved accessibility for learners around the world.

“It’s amazing to me,” Neser said. “I started this project to help Virginia Tech students in my courses while also providing a new resource that anyone could adopt, and seeing its global impact has really highlighted the value of such an open educational resource.”

Built for access, designed for impact

Both editions offer a comprehensive, beginner-friendly introduction to Earth science and are freely available online. Students can read them digitally, download them for offline use, print them, or order a print-on-demand copy. Each chapter features high-quality visuals and clear explanations aimed at making science understandable and engaging. 

“Much of my adaptation involved trimming and clarifying concepts from existing openly licensed resources in order to create clear, straightforward explanations without oversimplifying,” Neser said. “I also aimed to balance the content with diagrams, real-world examples, and embedded review questions to help students better understand complex topics.” 

A textbook without borders

The first edition has been adopted by 76 educational institutions spanning the U.S., Philippines, Canada, Nigeria, Cambodia, China, India, and Australia, including eight high schools. An additional 27 institutions are currently reviewing or piloting the book. 

Its zero-cost access has driven strong engagement: 

  • 186,000-plus downloads on VTechWorks
  • 196,000-plus views by over 93,000 users on Pressbooks
  • 279 print copies purchased

For students facing high textbook costs, the free resource has been transformative. 

“I realized it didn’t make sense to require my non-major students to purchase an expensive commercial textbook for just one semester,” she said. “A handful of students have made positive comments about the accessibility of this free-to-use textbook.”  

A blend of access and academic rigor

Adapting the book involved balancing access with academic rigor. While teaching with the first edition, Neser kept detailed records and feedback, which helped shape the second edition.

Introduction to Earth Science," second edition features:  

  • A new chapter on meteorology
  • Expanded sections on oceanography, climate change, renewable energy, and astronomy
  • A streamlined approach combining deserts and glaciers into one chapter
  • Personalized imagery from Neser’s own repository
  • Enhanced accessibility with improved alt text for over 700 figures

“I kept running notes of any content gaps and gathered feedback from students,” Neser said. “I continuously updated my list of items to revise for the second edition.”

Supporting open education at scale

Virginia Tech Publishing built on the intake and publication processes designed by the Open Education Initiative. While the Open Education Initiative managed all aspects of the project for the first edition, the second edition utilized a more collaborative approach. The initiative managed project intake, provided faculty training, and assisted with manuscript development and copyright verification. Virginia Tech Publishing provided editorial, accessibility, and design support, ensuring a polished, accessible, and widely available final product. 

“It is very rewarding to know that students in places we might never visit or know about can discover and learn because of these textbooks and other open educational resources,” said Anita Walz, assistant director for open education and scholarly communication librarian. “It is really exciting to see global interest and adoption in this book.”

For information regarding open textbooks and other open educational resources, register for the Introduction to Textbooks workshop or contact the Open Education Initiative at openeducation@vt.edu

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